FIGHT OR LIFE

We were taught that we must fight for everything to survive. Therefore, we fight. We fight each other within every aspect of our existence. In our families, our work, our religions, and our governments, we fight. We reject God’s way for peace on earth, seeing the fight as the only way to live. As we look back through human history in the book of Genesis, we see the first acts of strife in the story of Cain and Abel—human against human, brother against brother. Cain, the older brother, resented Abel because Abel was more careful and excellent in his work. Abel presented to God a sacrifice that he developed in obedience and reverence. Cain, having had the same opportunity as his brother to please God, chose to do his work halfheartedly and in disobedience. When his work was rejected, he became angry and resentful of his obedient brother. God reached out to Cain to teach him what was right and to warn him of what would happen if he continued in this attitude. But Cain chose to embrace the ways of Babylon. This embracing cultivated within him a murderous heart, and Cain eventually attacked and killed his younger brother (Gen. 4). Here we see the first offspring of the demons of jealousy and sloth in human history called murder.

As we fast-forward through human life on planet earth, we see the same scenario of Cain and Abel lived out over and over in the children of men. Our curse of sin has been encapsulated in three terms: the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: God offers us a better life than the constant fight. But in the fervor of our pride we drown out His voice thinking the next blow to our brother will give us victory. But the truth is the fight will continue until you surrender to God’s way. If you choose not to surrender you will die still fighting your brother.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – Jesus Christ (John 10:10)